Pub is The Hub is appealing to pub licensees in the Scottish Borders to come forward and take part in a unique pilot project to provide new rural services in their pubs.
The scheme is aimed at pubs that are interested in diversifying from the usual pub fayre of drink, food and entertainment into more community-based initiatives or services such as shops, cafés, libraries, allotments, school meals, IT/ Wifi provision or cash facilities to name just a few of the ideas.
The news was announced in January when Pub is The Hub confirmed financial support in the form of a £25,000 grant from The Prince’s Countryside Fund.
The grant will fund a pilot project for 12 months in the Scottish Borders to identify priority areas and rural service needs with the aim to work with at least eight rural pubs.
Malcolm Harrison from Pub is The Hub said: “We are looking for great licensees currently running pubs in the border counties who would like to diversify their business to contact us. In the first instance we will have a meeting to share information and there will be no obligation to take on a project.
Many pubs have unused space in their pub or outbuildings that could be used for new services such as farm shops, a café or community meeting space. These initiatives often involve working with local suppliers and creating new jobs for local people so the whole community benefits.”
The programme is closely aligned to The Prince’s Countryside Fund’s objectives in targeting areas of greatest priority for rural services and it seeks to tackle isolation and loneliness and halt the decline of communities, jointly brought about by lack of services, local jobs and facilities.
Anyone interested can get in touch by calling Pub is The Hub’s main office on 01 423 546165 or emailing samhope@pubisthehub.org.uk .
Notes:
Founded by HRH The Prince of Wales to help secure a brighter future for British farmers and the countryside, The Prince’s Countryside Fund (PCF) is celebrating its 5th anniversary in 2015. In the five years since its inception, the fund has invested over £5 million in rural Britain and this year’s grants aim to find the farmers of the future, improve rural livelihoods and create thriving rural communities.